Study leads to career change

Completing a PhD at Macquarie University opened the door on a new career for Stuart Bradfield who is now employed as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra.

Bradfield had what he calls a chequered academic career, before coming to Macquarie University in 1994 to undertake a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Aboriginal Studies. He had enrolled in business, then law, and then arts before choosing overseas travel.

After completing his undergraduate studies with First Class Honours, Bradfield commenced his PhD in 1998. His thesis put the case for entering into a treaty relationship with Indigenous peoples in Australia.

“I wanted to explore the broad issue of Indigenous rights, and found tying this in with the issue of treaty enabled me to maintain a core focus,” explains Bradfield. “In addressing both history and philosophy, it explored the underpinning on the State’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, and how these differed from the characteristics of a treaty relationship.”

As part of his PhD study, Bradfield spent a year as a visiting student at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. While there he researched the treaty process of that Province. This provided him with the basis to write a section of his PhD comparing Canada and Australia’s approaches to negotiated settlements.

When Bradfield completed his PhD in February 2003, he was selected to receive a Vice Chancellor’s commendation for his work.  “It was a great thrill and honour, as well as a wonderful surprise,” he says.

Apart from doors being opened to a new position, Bradfield says that he achieved a great deal of satisfaction from completing such a vast project. “I also gained a much deeper knowledge of a subject area I had a great interest in,” he said.

Bradfield has some good advice for those thinking about undertaking postgraduate study. “Do it – particularly if you think it will benefit you professionally,” Bradfield says. “But more importantly, do it because of a desire to look more deeply at a topic or subject you love. Get a good supervisor – but don’t panic when the relationship has its ups and downs. Try and enjoy the process – it is not often that you can devote such focus to a single long-term project. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, try and keep things in perspective.”

As for the future, Bradfield plans to stay in Canberra until his contract expires, and eventually return to academic life (he tutored to first year politics students for two years at Macquarie).

For further information on postgraduate study in the field of Politics and International Relations visit the department website on: http://www.pol.mq.edu.au/

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